Hidden Agendas

There was one huge presence that could be sensed by Luffy and Hancock, but they couldn't find the source of it. The reason being countless people around them share the same presence. This was alarming to hear for Elder Nyon.

"What's going on? Is it an ability?"

She mumbled.

"Don't know. Rayleigh never told me about anything like this. At least I can't remember if he did."

Luffy mumbled.

"I heard there are Haki Masters who can completely kill their presence and make it impossible for someone to sense them or predict their future....However, I can't tell if this is something opposite of that or something else."

Hancock answered.

"For the time being let's ignore—"

"Hey, Butterfly Girl."

Luffy suddenly called out to Caria causing her to turn around. Elder Nyon looked at him with a begging expression.

"Yes?"

"A lot of people here share a presence like they're the same person. Why is that?"

(Luffyyyyyy?!)

Elder Nyon screamed in her head. She looked at Hancock for support.

"Ah, so brave~."

However, she was a lost cause.

(Curse this stupid couple!)

She screamed internally. Caria turned around and looked at Luffy. People around them also started looking at him.

"I was beginning to wonder if any of you were ever going to ask."

"Huh?"

Elder Nyon wore a confused expression. Caria started smiling.

"I thought none of you had Haki which I found odd considering you're all pretty strong."

Her eyes narrowed.

"If you hadn't said anything I would've thought you guys were plotting something."

(Wha?! Then Luffy did the right thing?!)

Elder Nyon had to try her best to hide her shock.

"Let's see, there are two answers to your question. The first answer is that the people of this island have a special power where they can subconsciously join their presence together. This throws off Haki users."

"...And the other answer?"

Elder Nyon asked.

"We don't know."

"Huh?"

"It's the truth. What I said before is just a theory we came up with. In reality, no one knows the reason. It's been this way since I was born and the elders here don't have an answer either. However, I did hear it started happening almost 20 years ago."

(That's rather recent...)

"I see. Thanks."

Luffy thanked Caria with a smile.

"Don't worry, it's natural to be curious about it."

She turned her back to them and continued walking.

"Follow me, I'll lead you to the hospital to check if any of you are injured. After that, we'll bring you to meet the mayor and discuss what's your next course of action."

"Thank you again, Caria."

Rindo once again started chatting her up.

"Our question wasn't really answered but it's best we don't press the issue."

"Luffy you were so brave~."

"Really? I was just curious."

"And you didn't hesitate to get answers. I admire that."

"I see. Thanks, I guess."

Hancock and Luffy ignored Elder Nyon and entered their own world.

"...."

She silently followed them with a blank stare. After walking for a while, the group arrived at a hospital. They were attended to by the nurses and doctors there. Of course, the wounds on them were all self-afflicted to make their cover story more believable.

"Yo, Caria."

While they were getting treatment someone came in speaking with an upbeat tone. Like everybody else he was dressed in cowboy attire minus the hat, instead, he wore a hooded poncho.

"You're just coming to see what's going on now?"

Caria's frowning face reflected in the man's hazel eyes. A smile appeared on his face.

"I was kinda busy talking to the mayor. I'm here because he sent me to check if everything was okay on your end."

"I find that hard to believe when this hospital is in his Observation Haki range."

The man only smiled in response before turning to Hancock and the others.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Frantz Zapata and I'm the top Bounty Hunter on this island."

Frantz felt a cold sensation at his neck. He looked down and saw a scalpel pressed against his throat.

"Down even joke about that. It's disrespectful to the mayor who worked hard to obtain his position."

Frantz lifted his hands up.

"My bad. Then can I say the best young Bounty Hunter?"

"That's even worse."

"Huh? How is that worse?"

"Because that's disrespectful to me."

"Hold up."

Frantz grabbed Caria's arm.

"Don't tell me you actually think you're better than me?"

"Am I better than a guy who has the stamina of a koala? Of course."

"I can't let that slide. Did you forget I lost to that giant koala in a foot race? You're dissing koalas comparing them to me."

"....If one thing, you're the most shameless Bounty Hunter."

"I'll admit that but you're the clumsiest."

He pointed at the Kuja.

"You didn't even notice you revealed this is an island of Bounty Hunters to the guests when you mentioned how the mayor got his title."

"Ah!"

Caria looked at the Kuja with her eyes peeled.

"T-That's....Wait, you're the one who revealed it!"

"I did, however you're still clumsy."

Frantz grinned.

"You failed to notice their lack of reaction to us being Bounty Hunters or the true nature of this island...As if they already knew from the beginning."

It was Kuja's eyes that peeled open this time.

(We messed up! This guy, from his introduction to the pointless banter with that girl, everything he's done since he came here was to test us!)

Elder Nyon started panicking internally while Hancock's face was deadpan. Luffy looked lost.

"You misunderstand, Frantz Zapata."

Rindo stepped forward.

"It's not that we knew these stuff already, it's just compared to nearly dying at the hands of The Hawkeye Mihawk. After that, not many things can shock us. Maybe once we've calmed down and relaxed it will finally hit us."

She was all smiles, however, Caria wasn't. An icy gaze fell on Rindo.

(Not good, she's already on the defensive.)

Rindo glanced at Hancock.

(Snake Princess, we might be in trouble here.)

Hancock nodded as if reading her thoughts. Luffy sensed the change in the atmosphere and put on a serious expression. Tension filled the hospital.

"I see, so it was a misunderstanding."

Frantz's voice broke the tension.

"Looks like I was reading too much into it."

He started laughing.

"Come on, Caria. Relax, you're scaring the guests. They just had a scary experience. Let's not traumatize them any further."

He placed his hand on her shoulder.

"A misunderstanding?"

She glanced at him.

"That's right. I overreacted."

Caria looked at him for a while before frowning.

"Don't say things if you aren't sure. You made me put my guard up for nothing."

She stomped on his feet and stormed off.

"My bad, my bad."

Frantz laughed while Caria went to apologize to Rindo and the others. He smiled and turned his head. His eyes landed on Luffy who was laughing at Caria who was sincerely apologizing. He stared at him for a while before a small smile appeared on his face. He turned his head again.

"......."

Hancock was glaring at him without even attempting to be subtle.

(...It's like a serpent staring down her prey.)

Frantz thought while letting out a low chuckle. He turned away from her with a wry smile.

(Tate, I'm glad you made Caria handle them because of her gullible nature, but I'm stuck with a Warlord wanting to kill me...)

He started sweating buckets.

(I wish Jessie was here. At least I wouldn't feel so scared.)

He could feel Hancock's gaze piercing the back of his head.

"Jessie, Astrid, Luka, anybody, please. I'm scared."

He mumbled under his breath. At the same time somewhere on the island, someone was overlooking the situation. Nothing escaped their eyes and everything was clear to them. Despite this, this figure decided to stay hidden and observe.